I hope I don’t sound like a twit asking a question essentially determined by personal preference or physical size, but I need advice. Being primarily an uilleann piper, the transition to various low whistle has never been a big deal as to the grip; on the low D and F I do not even think of it. However, recently feeling flush and reading such glowing reviews of the Burke Al-pro A, I had to get one.
All said about it is true; however, its size is exactly at the point where one can use either regular finger pad hole coverage or pipers grip. But neither well. Using the pulp tips leads to a subtle overstretch which draws ones attention, causes tension and one can feel the tendonitis brewing. Using the pipers grip causes a subtle tension in the fifth digit, since it is a bit smaller than an uilleann pipe chanter; slowly one becomes unnaturally aware of the fifth finger, one tenses it moreso, and again one feels early tendonitic symptoms. I know the Holy Grail is always tension free grip leading to effortless playing; but there is nothing which increases tension more than thinking about finger placement, when you have not had to in years.
Thus, with playing various whistle keys and switching between them, how does one deal with that whistle right at the inflection point: too long for regular fingering but not exactly right for the pipers grip?
Probably, over time one gets used to it; or does one find himself simply not playing that key of whistle. With this Burke, the latter option would make my heart grieve.
RCM
Hey Murph,
I’m really glad you posted about this situation. I’m no piper, but I use piper’s grip on the Burke Al pro A and have noticed what you describe. I put a Susato thumb rest on it for my right hand thumb, and this really helps, but I would prefer to have a cleaner looking whistle and not have to check the position of the thumb rest before playing each time…
I love this whistle! Paddy in Chicago and March of King Laois sound devine on it.
Lisa
I have exactly the problem you both mention with my new Burke Alpro G. (Maybe my hands are a bit bigger.) In my case, I also have trouble getting a good seal on some notes. I have it on good authority that this is normal and something I’ll overcome over time.
What I do at that transition point which works best for me is to play with a whistle grip with my left hand and a piper grip with my right. I use this grip on my Overton low F and it works a treat. Try it and see if it helps with your problems. After a very brief period of adjustment, it felt quite natural to me. I think others use the same trick.
Wombat, you seem quite right. It does work for me,at any rate.
And this does give you a left thumb much more mobile for, like, a 7th hole ? 
On 2002-11-27 11:48, Wombat wrote:
What I do at that transition point which works best for me is to play with a whistle grip with my left hand and a piper grip with my right. I use this grip on my Overton low F and it works a treat. Try it and see if it helps with your problems. After a very brief period of adjustment, it felt quite natural to me. I think others use the same trick.
Funny, I think I do exactly the oposite, using piper’s grip on the left (upper) hand and whistle grip on the right (lower) hand on my Kerry Low D. It gives me a better seal, but my right hand tires faster than my left, and I am trying to switch to pipers on the lower hand, too. If I play a lot on the low D, the seal on my left pointer (b-hole) weakens.
It’s funny, for me it’s all gradual. I play piper’s grip on my Low D, but the grip of both of my hands will shorten the smaller the whistle gets. Actually, I could even say that I don’t really play my high D with the tip of my fingers, my fingers are always a little deeper. I didnt notice any stage where I’m stucked between using pipers and non-pipers, but I will study the thing tonight, that’s very interesting.
I have noticed the switch over thing on low f’s, I have two, a locally made Bartlett as well as a Susato. The susato is fine with the pipers grip, but the bartlett, same length & finger spacings but narrower bore, is just at that awkward size where neither grip works well. A pity, because it is the better whistle. Doubly a pity because it works the other way around for my girlfriend with smaller hands.
I use piper’s grip on everything
but the high D. Yes, I do think
one will become tension free
on the A.
I too use piper’s grip on all but Sop D. I never really thought about it. I do have skinny fingers so maybe that’s why.
Yeah, I use piper’s grip on all whistles, and on the high D all of my fingers stop at about 1cm after the holes…
On 2002-11-27 10:58, Murph wrote:
I hope I don’t sound like a twit asking a question essentially determined by personal preference or physical size (…) but there is nothing which increases tension more than thinking about finger placement, when you have not had to in years.
Thus, with playing various whistle keys and switching between them, how does one deal with that whistle right at the inflection point: too long for regular fingering but not exactly right for the pipers grip?
RCM
murph -
just want to say that i appreciate this post. i’m always left experimenting myself on anything lower than mezzo a & it’s great to hear the experience of others.
thanks!
- tom
[ This Message was edited by: french on 2002-11-28 01:59 ]
Well just to be differnt, I play the low whistles bottom hole, with my pinky.
Wiz
Me too, as far as playing the bottom hole with my pinkie finger. Can’t get a piper grip that spreads across to be able to cover the hole well with the second joint, but the pinkie pad just fits!
Because of this thread, I’ve focused on the problem from suggesting my initial remedy to graduating beyond my remedy. The thumbrest came off (my initial remedy) because this thread made me determined to practice until I could get a better seal on the bell note. So often C&F threads encourage me to practice beyond what I would do as a solitary practitioner. Thanks again for initiating this discussion!
Six months ago I switched to piper’s grip on all my sop whistles because I found that my right middle fingers can move much faster in this position. I got the idea from this board.
I still have to use my pinky on my low G’s bell note because it’s the best fit, like the one mentioned above. This sharing how we experiment with technique is very encouraging.
Lisa